The three principles underpinning the circular economy, according to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, are to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems. This concept constantly challenges companies and society in general to reuse products and materials and thereby help mitigate climate change and the regeneration of ecosystems.
Promoting the circular economy constitutes an essential contribution to meeting the needs of society in general, within the limits of the planet.
Application of circular economy principles in Corticeira Amorim's value chain has focused on the following actions:
During the production process at Corticeira Amorim, 100% of the cork is used. Even the smallest granules are used as an important energy source. Currently, more than 60% of the energy consumed, mainly in the production processes, derives from cork powder and other types of biomass.
Corticeira Amorim has thereby implemented an integrated production process that permits and fosters the reuse of all by-products associated with cork processing. Since 1963, the maxim “Nothing is lost, everything is valued”, is one of the Company's main strategies and challenges - to end with cork waste or residues, thereby optimising the added value of all the raw material.
In addition to making full use of cork, Corticeira Amorim always chooses to use recycled materials from other industries, whenever this is feasible, and thereby saves natural resources on the planet and reduces the problems associated with their disposal.
Such management of the consumption of materials is only possible thanks to the characteristics of the raw material - cork, which can be 100% used and can foster synergies with other materials or by-products from other industries, thereby expanding the diversity of applications.
